PADRES: Cumberland ecstatic about making his return

PEORIA, Ariz. — Had his career path not been diverted by injury, shortstop Drew Cumberland likely would have participated in the Padres' first full-squad workout on Saturday. But even though he's docked in the minor-league clubhouse this spring, you'd be hard-pressed to wipe the smile off Cumberland's face.

Rated the ninth-best prospect in the Padres' system before the 2011 season by Baseball America, Cumberland is ready to return to the diamond after a 19-month absence and an early retirement.

Cumberland, 23, missed all of 2011 after he was diagnosed with bilateral vestibulopathy, a rare neurological condition in which the portions of both inner ears that control balance are damaged.

But this offseason, Cumberland learned from doctors at the Sports Concussion Institute in Los Angeles the condition can be controlled with a series of brain and eye exercises. Coupled with several guards against concussion, Cumberland, who started the organization's minor-league minicamp Saturday, is ready for another chance with the Padres.

"I couldn't be more excited," Cumberland said. "Not too many people get a second chance at something they love to do. I feel like I'm going to take it and run with it and hope for the best and work hard every day."

Cumberland's career isn't the only aspect of his life affected by his condition, which doctors have told him afflicts only 3 percent of people the same age worldwide.

Combined with a history of concussions, Cumberland began to experience migraine headaches, sensitivity to light, vision and balance problems and short-term memory loss, which he remembers "really scared me," he said.

As team doctors struggled to find answers, Cumberland recalls thinking he'd never play again. Last June 24, Cumberland informed the Padres his career was over.

"As far as I'm concerned I was pretty much (retired)," Cumberland said. "(Team doctor Harry Albers) felt like I was making the right decision as well. He didn't think he would be a good doctor if he told me to go back out there and try."

But last August, doctors in San Diego put Cumberland in touch with the Sports Concussion Institute. There he met with Dr. Tony Strickland and learned brain and eye exercises he still performs today. Cumberland remembers that he instantly felt better and began to show gradual improvement. By November, only two months after he first started treatment, Strickland cleared Cumberland to return to action.

Despite the layoff, Cumberland isn't worried about losing any of his physical tools.

"I feel like my abilities are still there," Cumberland said. "I don't feel like I've lost any speed. I just need to get my feet wet seeing live pitching. That's one of the reasons they brought me to minicamp."

Cumberland isn't completely certain his fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants style won't lead to another concussion. But a mouthguard and concussion pills (appropriately named Brain Armor) have Cumberland confident he is taking the proper precautions.

"I'm not going to say there is not a fear there for diving," Cumberland said. "But I'm not going to play like that. I've always played the game pretty hard. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. I'd kick myself in the butt if I didn't come out here and try it."